Novel epimerization of aromatic C-nucleosides with electron-withdrawing substituents with trifluoroacetic acid–benzenesulfonic acid using mild conditions

Trifluoroacetic acid and benzenesulfonic acid in dichloromethane at ambient temperature have been found to be efficient co-catalysts for the epimerization of C-nucleosides with electron-withdrawing substituents. This approach provides a convenient route to the β anomer of the nucleosides with high yields in the range 54–78%. Synthesis of the 3′-phosphoramidite of 2,4-difluorophenyl C-nucleoside suitable for solid-phase DNA synthesis is described.